An arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat problems with joints.
It's most often used on the knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hips.
Only small cuts (incisions) are made during keyhole surgery.
When an arthroscopy is used
An arthroscopy is sometimes used if x-rays or scans do not show the cause of joint symptoms.
For example, if you have:
- joint pain
- swelling and stiffness
An arthroscopy can also treat joint problems.
For example, it can:
- repair damaged cartilage
- remove fragments of loose bone or cartilage
- drain away excess fluid
- treat arthritis, frozen shoulder, temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or carpal tunnel syndrome
Preparing for surgery
Before having an arthroscopy, you may get an appointment for a pre-admission clinic.
At the clinic, a doctor or nurse will check you are well enough for surgery.
The surgical team will explain the potential benefits and risks of having an arthroscopy.
You'll also get information about:
- eating and drinking on the day of surgery
- whether to stop or start any medicines
- your recovery and how long it is expected to take
- exercises after surgery
The procedure
Most people have an arthroscopy under general anaesthetic. This is when you are asleep during the procedure. But some people have a spinal or local anaesthetic instead.
Your anaesthetist will talk to you about which type of anaesthetic is best for you.
The surgeon cleans the skin with antibacterial fluid. They make a small incision in the skin next to the joint. They insert an arthroscope into the joint. An arthroscope is a thin, metal tube with a light and camera at one end.
The arthroscope sends images to a screen. The surgeon can see inside your joint.
They make more cuts and insert other surgical instruments. They use these to remove unwanted tissue or repair damaged areas. Sometimes the surgeon fills the joint with a sterile fluid to help them see more clearly.
After the procedure
The instruments and excess fluid are removed. The wounds are usually closed with tape or stitches and covered with a dressing.
An arthroscopy takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours. You may be able to go home later that day or the following morning.
Someone may need to collect you. You cannot drive on the day of surgery.
Risks of an arthroscopy
An arthroscopy is generally a safe procedure. But like all types of surgery, there are some risks.
It's normal to have swelling, bruising, stiffness and discomfort after an arthroscopy. These usually improve in the days and weeks following the procedure.
More serious problems are much less common. They happen in fewer than 1 in 100 cases.
These include:
- a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - this is a blood clot that can cause pain and swelling
- infection in the joint (septic arthritis) - can cause fever, pain and swelling in the joint
- bleeding in the joint - this often causes severe pain and swelling
- damage to nerves near the joint - this can cause numbness and some loss of sensation
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or the surgical team if:
- you think you may have a complication from the surgery
Recovering from an arthroscopy
Recovering from an arthroscopy can take anything from a few days to a few months. This depends on what you had done during the procedure.
Your surgeon or care team will talk to you about what they expect for your recovery.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
